Two advocacy groups, Men Against Rape and Domestic Violence (MARDV) and Just A Girl Initiatives (JAGI) has signed a memorandum of understanding agreeing to join their forces in combating Rape and violence in Liberia.
The signing ceremony was held February 27,2025 at the office of Just A Girl Initiatives In Duazon, Lower Margibi County.
MARDV, a non-governmental organization dedicated to the fight against sexual violence, domestic abuse, and advocating for the protection of women’s and girls’ rights in Liberia and JAGI, a non-profit organization focused on empowering, promoting, and protecting the rights of girls and women, particularly in the areas of sexual and gender-based violence, girls and women’s empowerment through vocational and technical skills, as providing opportunities to enable women to live productively and make informed decisions about their lives and contribute to society advancement in Liberia agreed to ensure that their advocacies reach counties in Liberia.
“Both organizations are committed to advocating for the rights of women and girls in Liberia, focusing on the promotion, protection, and helping Liberian women and girls to participate in positive ventures such as skill training and rights education” Mrs. Evelyn Kpadeh Seagbeh, Executive Director of JAGI said during the signing ceremony.
Reading through the agreement, Mrs. Seagbeh said MARDV and JAGI wish to collaborate and align their efforts through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen their shared objectives in fighting against rape and domestic violence, helping communities to know and understand the reporting pathway and how to report incidents of rape and domestic violences (whether perpetrated against either gender, male or female.
As part of things agreed by the two institutions, are the promotion, protection, and participation of Liberian women and girls of Margibi,Montserrado, Nimba, Grand Bassa and Bomi Counties into ventures focusing on combating and raising awareness about rape and domestic violence.
“ We will provide support by linking victims and survivors to other organizations that provide resources for victims and survivors.
You know we don’t have the money but we can link people to institutions and JAGI has been doing it” Mrs. Seagbeh said they will carry out joint awareness campaigns,community outreach and education, advocacy and policy change
“Ensuring the active participation of women and girls in community decision-making processes.
Mentor and educate men and young boys as well as women across communities about the danger of rape and domestic violence and the impacts it has on families, communities, and the nation in general” she said.
Also speaking, the Executive Director for Men Against Rape and Domestic Violence (MARDV) Mark Neywon Mengonfia said the signing is a great step in fighting rape and domestic violence in Liberia.
Mr. Mengonfia said as a father of girls, he sees the need to fight for a safe space for women, girls, children and all humans.
“That is why it is with great pleasure that we have gathered here this afternoon with the purpose of signing an MOU with Just A Girl Initiatives, an institution that has similar focus as MARDV” Mengonfia said.
He added, “This MOU is intended to join our forces to challenge this national problem together.
We intend to have a series of activities this year ranging from organizing sports tournaments, having engagements with community members and their leaderships, establishing HE for SHE clubs in high schools among others.”
The MARDV Executive Director indicated, “We don’t want to sit for another child to be raped, a boy sodomized or a woman killed violently before we start to condemn.”
As part of activities, the MARDV ED said they are planning a daylong football tournament on March 15,2015 with the purpose of raising awareness.
Mengonfia said MARDV was established in 2020 at the time former President George Weah declared rape as a national emergency.
He said, “ It is an institution that seeks to change attitudes, promote healthy relationships, and foster a culture of respect, responsibility, and equality.
We work collaboratively with survivors, policymakers, and stakeholders to create a safer environment where violence will no longer have a place.
He furthered, “ The vision of this institution to see a Liberia where every individual, regardless of gender, lives free from the threat of rape and domestic violence.”
The MARDV ED indicated that they envision a society where men and women stand united in the fight against violence, and where mutual respect, love, and understanding form the foundation of all relationships.
“We aspire to a future where no person suffers in silence and where justice and support are accessible to all who need it” he indicated.
